THE RULE OF SAINT BENEDICT

Prologue

Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice. The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, one and for all and armed with the string and the noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord.